SAG-AFTRA/AEA/EQUITY/BAFTA Member

Darren Darnborough and Richard Cambridge are perfect examples of two actors taking control of their careers and being proactive in an industry which demands just that, if you wish to succeed in an increasingly overcrowded profession and have your voice heard. Their creation will benefit all actors globally.

Darren and Richard are busy British actors working respectively out of Los Angeles and London, and together with American actress Jessica Lee Rose, now residing and working in Sydney, have developed a truly exciting and groundbreaking tool giving a freedom and an access to both actors and casting directors, which I believe will radically and rapidly change how industry professionals approach the audition process from here on.

They first developed the hugely popular WeRehearse to assist actors in finding rehearsal partners and acting coaches to aid them in preparing for auditions, which currently boasts a membership of nearly 6000. And now they are launching WeAudition, enabling actors and casting directors to connect at the click of a button, giving each easy access to the other, which before has been severely restricted. So now you can have a 'one on one' audition with a casting director in Los Angeles, London, New York or Sydney from wherever in the world you may be when that all important casting call reaches you.

We were very lucky to connect with Darren and Richard, whose busy lives mean that they are rarely ever in the same country together, but were in New York for the biannual gathering of the CSA (Casting Society of America), at Telsey & Co, with over 80 casting directors from all over the U.S. in attendance. It was a rare opportunity on many levels, and the reaction from all the casting directors was an overwhelming 'thumbs up'.

In this episode Darren and Richard discuss the genesis of WeAudition/WeRehearse, how it works, and how simple and easy it is to operate. WeAudition is clearly a game changer.

As we fast approach Diary Of An Actor's 2nd anniversary, we are celebrating early with a very special diary's, Actors' Notes, with four interviewees as our guests, who collectively make up The Pond Theatre Company.

This is our 25th episode, and finds me in my New York stage debut; appearing as 'Laurence Moss' in Mike Leigh's painfully funny satirical comedy of manners, ABIGAIL'S PARTY; a co-production between the newly formed Pond Theatre Company, and the highly acclaimed and long established Barrow Group Theatre Company.

Joint artistic director of The Barrow GroupTheatre Company and School, Lee Brock, has directed the piece with a deft and nuanced hand, resulting in the production receiving a rave review and Critics Pick in the New York Times, and leading to sold out houses.

In earlier episodes I have always stressed, as have our guests, how important it is for actors to be pro-active and take control of their careers. These four remarkable actors, Lily Dorment, Colleen Clinton, Sarah Street and Nick Hetherington have done just that, and in this episode share how their company came to be formed, and what the future holds for The Pond Theatre Company.

Jimmy Akingbola is truly a force to reckon with on so many levels. His passion and enthusiasm in pursuit of what he loves in a hard knocks profession that takes no prisoners and offers no quarter, is matched equally by the passion and enthusiasm with which he kicks down walls and barriers to help those just starting out or those already established, to get in the room and create partnerships that will give them the power to grow and develop as creatives, and subsequently enable their voices to be heard.

Jimmy is rapidly ascending to the dizzy heights of stardom and celebrity, but his feet are firmly rooted to the ground, with his eyes set on much more than accolades and awards. If Jimmy's going places, then he means to bring you with him. Inclusion is the name of the game.

In this episode Jimmy shares with us his journey from secondary school, and promising professional soccer player, to becoming the heart throb lead in the BBC's TV hit series, HOLBY CITY in the UK, before breaking into the U.S. market as super villain, Baron Reiter in DC Comics/The CW's highly acclaimed TV show, ARROW.

He offers valuable tips and advice regarding entering the profession and managing your career, and an introduction to his TriForce Creative Network, which he set up in 2004 with his friend and business partner, Fraser Ayres to 'give back' to the industry and offer others opportunities as actors, writers and filmmakers throughout the UK, which he is now introducing to the U.S. Jimmy is truly inspirational.

Should you be lucky enough to find yourself in London between 15 September and 22 October 2016, then you can catch Jimmy in action on the stage at the Royal Court, Jerwood Space Downstairs in Suzan Lori-Parks's, FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (Parts 1, 2 & 3), directed by Jo Bonney, in which Jimmy stars as 'Hero'. Not to be missed!

DIARY OF AN ACTOR by John Pirkis and Cécile Delepière.

Ep#23. Actors' Notes. Ray Trickitt

I met Ray Trickitt in Los Angeles in 2011, not long after both of us had taken the leap and relocated from London. Ray and I graduated from our respective drama schools and started our professional careers at around the same time, but our career trajectories were very different. Ray booked a leading London agent straight out of drama school and his career took off immediately.

Ray has had continued success on stage and screen internationally, leading to his living in New Zealand for several years, working with Peter Jackson on LORD OF THE RINGS and KING KONG, as well as starring in U.S. and New Zealand TV shows whilst residing in Auckland. He then returned to London to resume his success there before eventually realizing his childhood dream of working and living in Hollywood.

Our guest on this episode is very special in so many ways! Firstly, Sondra James is the reason I am in New York, and why I haven't stopped working here since my arrival. Secondly, she's a fabulous actress of Broadway stages, and film and television.

Not only is Sondra James immensely talented, but she has a wicked sense of humour that shines through her personality, and is one of the reasons why as a mature actress she is so heavily in demand.

Born and raised in New York, Sondra studied with Stella Adler, and as well as acting worked for a short while as an actors' agent, and set up and still runs her own ADR company, Speakeasy.

Sondra is a shining example of someone being in this industry for the long haul, for the love of the Art, and not simply for the quick fix of fame, celebrity and the big bucks. And, with her many years of experience she has plenty of great advice to impart, and some great stories.

SPEAK EASY

Well, the Fall is upon us, and summer behind us, and welcome back to the all new, DIARY OF AN ACTOR.

The summer for me was no holiday, and I am not complaining, the result is that I have been working since August, and am contracted through October to possibly November and beyond.

As a result, due to both mine and Cecile's workload, we are changing the format from weekly to monthly, possibly bi-monthly, still with the same content. We have some great guests lined up, and if there are any particular points within the industry you would like us to examine in detail, then don't hesitate to drop us a request note.

We are also going to be filming exclusively on the I-Phone 6 Plus. It lends us greater flexibility, and offers incredibly good quality in both picture and sound.

With a few weeks of our Summer break remaining, here is a snapshot recap promo for Season 2 of DIARY OF AN ACTOR, resuming August 2015.Thanks to all our subscribers and viewers for your support and generous comments.With special thanks to our guests on Actors' Notes, Yvonne Wandera, Caroline Kinsolving, Daniel Passer, and Jake Robinson.

Very occasionally you meet a young actor and you instinctively know that they are destined for greatness; you feel it. I first encountered it with Tom Hiddleston and Tom Hardy when they were working at my theatre early on in their careers. It is a combination of the utter passion they have for doing what they love, and the total confidence and belief they have in themselves, plus a full comprehension of, and having a handle on, the industry's demands. Their talent is a given. They don't acknowledge failure! An aura of success shimmers around them. One such actor, whom we're thrilled to invite on to our ACTORS' NOTES series as our fourth guest is, Jake Robinson, star of, THE CARRIE DIARIES and NBC's recent, AMERICAN ODYSSEY.

I watched Jake up close at scene study class, and witnessed his vulnerability, strength and openness, coupled with his laser sharp focus, total equanimity and hair-trigger intellect. All of them as a whole delivering a very attractive package to casting directors, and Studio and Network producers alike.

In this interview, Jake offers invaluable tips on how to gain the success you aim for, whilst maintaining your sanity; as well as cataloging the many challenges such a journey throws at you, especially during pilot season.

DIARY OF AN ACTOR by John Pirkis and Cécile Delepière.

ACTORS' NOTES. Ep#19. Daniel Passer.

Our third guest in our, ACTORS' NOTES series has a remarkable list of skills and qualifications to his name as a result of the very particular journey he took, once he knew from a very early age that he wanted to be a performer. Following his Classical acting training at Harvard he was introduced to the magical world of, Commedia dell'Arte, which in turn opened up a huge range of opportunities, and led him down avenues he had never imagined would be open to him, nor had he entertained them as possibilities. The result was that he gained world acclaim and international renown. He is the very wonderful, and very talented, Daniel Passer.

"Professional Idiot and Lead Clown with Cirque du Soleil and Dragone.Classically Trained at Harvard.Played on the stages of - American Repertory Theatre, Lookingglass Ensemble, The Goodman, Radio City Music Hall, The Beacon Theatre, Teatro Olympico, The Actor's Gang, The Kremlin...Founding Member Your New Best Friends, Gods of Sex and The Rotten Plantains.US Commedia dell'Arte Representative, Teatro Olympico, Italy."

As well as being a Master Teacher at Harvard, Brown, The Second City and The Moscow Art Theatre.

His is a fantastic story, peppered with invaluable advice to those in pursuit of a career as an actor.

Our second guest in our ACTORS' NOTES series has had a love affair with the spoken word from her infancy. Caroline Kinsolving grew up on a farm in New England and is the daughter of two writers. She attended Milton Academy, The Mountain School, Vassar College, Harbin and Beijing Universities in China, Stella Adler, Yale, and RADA in London. Since graduating she works consistently in theatre, television, and film.

Her heart very firmly belongs to theatre, where amongst her many roles, she has portrayed most of Shakespeare's comedic, romantic heroines. Nor is she a stranger to Noel Coward or Oscar Wilde. She recently received a Best Actress Nomination for her portrayal of 'Vanda' in the American classic, penned by David Ives, VENUS IN FUR for San Diego Rep.

Her latest project, FOEMS (Film & Poems), brings poetry to the next generation through a strong following on YouTube.

When not pursuing her dreams and making them a reality, Caroline is very active in helping others to realise their dreams through the many charities she supports and actively works with. These include StarPaws, BookPals, KCRW, MuchLove, JDRF and CyanGray Foundation.

CAROLINE KINSOLVING

Caroline Kinsolving grew up on a farm in New England and is the daughter of two writers. She attended Milton Academy, The Mountain School, Vassar College, Harbin and Beijing Universities in China, Stella Adler, Yale, and RADA in London. Since graduating she works consistently in theatre, television, and film.

Caroline Kinsolving began her acting career as Peter Pan. Since then, she has studied at RADA in London, Stella Adler, Yale, Vassar, and Steppenwolf with Jeff Perry, and in New York with Kristin Linklater, Gerald Shoenfeld, and the late, great Mike Nichols. She recently earned a Best Actress nomination for her work as Vanda in Venus in Fur (San Diego Rep); Jennie in Chapter Two (Laguna Playhouse); Olivia in Twelfth Night (The Old Globe); Amanda in Private Lives (ICT); Jo in Little Women (North Coast Rep); Kate in The Taming of the Shrew, Viola in Twelfth Night, Rosalind in As You Like It (Kingsmen); John Cariani's Almost, Maine (The Colony Theatre); Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, All In the Timing (Harold Clurman Rep); Coriolanus (Shaw Theatre). Television: “Medium,” “Criminal Minds” (with Tim Curry),“Cold Case,” “Satisfaction,” “My Crazy Ex,” “Sam Has 7 Friends,” “Headhunters” (Pilot). Film: “Krankenhaus,” “The Pink Conspiracy,” “Break,” “The Adventures of Umbweki,” “Noobz,” “Puppy Love,” “The Collaboration.” Her new project, FOEMS (Film+Poems), brings poetry to the next generation through a strong following on YouTube.